Punjab jail dept to start special prison call, smart card systems

With a view to making prisons across the state currency free and to streamline telephone communication services system, the Punjab jail department will start special prison call and smart card systems for inmates.

On his visit to the central jail here on Wednesday, additional director general of police (prisons) Rajpal Meena said inmates would be provided telephone communication services through prison call system through which they would be able to contact their families only.

"The inmates will be allowed to contact only the mobile numbers registered by them. The inmates need not dial a number as the prison call system works automatically with the help of the finger prints of inmates," he said.

Meena said the payments for the call would be made through the smart card system. Besides, the coupon system would be replaced by smart cards for making payment for canteen goods in jails.

"We have launched a pilot project of prison call system in the Patiala jail, and the smart card facility in the Ferozepur jail following which it will also be started in other prisons," he said.

Meena, along with deputy inspector general of police (prisons) Lakhwinder Singh Jakhar, inaugurated the sale centre for goods prepared by inmates, a Verka booth and a Metro wholesale unit inside the jail premises.

The jail officers also inaugurated a special seminar being organised by the Art of Living to keep inmates stress free.

Speaking on the security of prisons, Meena said that to ensure better security arrangements, 1,300 Punjab home guards and Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation jawans had already been deployed in different jails across the state.

"A special team of psychologists and social counsellors has been called to jails for regular counselling sessions of inmates, especially those of drug addicts. The arrangements for special lectures on rehabilitation and to maintain physical and mental balance of inmates is also conducted in the jails," Meena said.